ReviewA Truly ‘Wild Thing’: The Raymond Weil Freelancer Jimi Hendrix Limited Edition

One of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, despite a career spanning a mere four years, Jimi Hendrix gave us huge hits such as ‘Purple haze’, ‘Hey Joe’ and ‘Voodoo child’. Hendrix’s famous guitar riffs and distortions defined rock music in the 1960s, and they reverberate even today. Echoing the musician’s iconography is a special edition timepiece from Raymond Weil. Music has been in the Swiss watchmaker’s DNA since its inception—recent music-inspired editions being the Maestro ‘The Beatles Sgt Pepper’s’, the Tango GMT Bob Marley and the Tango Marshall Amplification. It comes as no surprise then that the brand has even drawn inspiration from this musical superstar.

The ‘Stone Free’ Freelancer

The brand has chosen its Freelancer line of timepieces to exemplify Hendrix’s freedom of spirit, and we feel it’s an apt choice. This watch commemorates 50 years of an epic moment in musical history—when, in 1969, Jimi Hendrix took to the Woodstock stage and, on his white Fender Stratocaster, gave the world a spellbinding rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ (the US national anthem).

Meant for horology and music aficionados alike, the Freelancer Jimi Hendrix Limited Edition is one of many music-inspired timepieces by Raymond Weil. Aptly representing the spirit of rock 'n' roll, the small Hendrix-inspired details the brand has included are sure to have you grooving to his tunes

The Freelancer collection’s stainless steel case can be seen here in a matte finish, with the same pushers and crown as the rest of the chronographs in the line—but that’s where the similarities end. The rest of the watch’s design language exudes Hendrix’s free spirit through and through.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The case size of this watch, at 42mm, is bold, just as Hendrix’s four-year presence in the music scene was. The details of the dial are inspired by the guitar—the same white Fender Stratocaster he used in Woodstock—that catapulted Jimi Hendrix from rock ‘n’ roll fame to legend. The nine dotted hour markers mimic the frets on the guitar neck, while the circular border etched throughout the watch face represents his guitar’s six strings.

While the case of the watch makes it a distinct member of the Freelancer collection, the details on the dial are an ode to the rock 'n' roll superstar

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The nine dotted hour markers mimic the frets on the guitar neck, while the circular border etched throughout the watch face represents his guitar’s six strings

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The watch box harks back to the outfit Hendrix wore while performing, complete with the Aztec print of his guitar strap and a representation of his beaded fringe jacket

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Inside the box is another surprise. Its interiors are decorated with a tie-dye print, reminiscent of the colourful, groovy 1960s

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What really stood out for many during his Woodstock performance was his guitar strap, with its Aztec pattern, which has been embossed on a small part of the dial near the date and day window at three o’clock. The cyan blue from the outfit he wore that day is represented on the central chronograph hand as well as those on the 30-minute and 12-hour counter at 12 and six o’clock. A small detail that keen-eyed aficionados will take no time to point out is that the counterweight of the central chronograph seconds hand is shaped like Hendrix’s guitar’s famous left-handed fender. The tachymeter scale also has the phrase ‘Music is my religion’—words famously spoken by Hendrix—etched on it, again in blue lettering. Meanwhile, the dark brown calf leather strap lends a classic touch.

This photograph captures the iconic moment when Jimi Hendrix performed a rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner', USA's national anthem, at Woodstock in 1969, and made history

Raymond Weil has used many cues from this moment for the tribute timepiece, including the Aztec print of Hendrix's guitar strap, which is embossed on a part of the dial

The RW5200 chronograph calibre with automatic winding powers the music-inspired exterior. This movement offers the wearer a power reserve of 48 hours. The exhibition caseback—which is numbered—features an image of the megastar, along with the words ‘Authentic Hendrix’, a seal of approval by Hendrix’s estate. The watch offers water resistance up to 100m.

The box that the watch comes packed in has been designed specifically to cater to the tastes of ardent fans of Hendrix’s music—the white box is an homage to Woodstock and comes with an Aztec print on the top, along with a representation of his beaded fringe jacket. The trippy tie-dye interiors hark back to the funky 60s.

A Worthy Tribute

Limited to only 500 pieces, another feature that will have music aficionados excited is that the watch comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Jimi Hendrix’s sister, Janie Hendrix. For die-hard fans of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, there’s nothing that better represents his free spirit and groovy style. With this watch strapped to your wrist, it doesn’t matter whether you’re strumming the guitar belting out his tunes or timing your laps listening to his incredible riffs on your earphones…you’ll be experiencing a little bit of that wild rock ‘n’ roll life that you’ve always dreamt of.